BackPulwama fallout: 'Total Dhamaal', 'Luka Chhupi' won't release in Pakistan
Pakistan is a sizeable market for Bollywood and brings around 5% of the overall earnings at timesPakistani distributors can pay a minimum guarantee of up to ₹5 crore for a big Indian film
PremiumNew Delhi: Bollywood has made its stand clear in light of the Pulwama terror attack. At least two upcoming films—ensemble comedy Total Dhamaal and romantic comedy Luka Chhupi will not release in Pakistan. Luka Chuppi producer Dinesh Vijan has cancelled contracts with Pakistani distributors for the Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon-starrer, beside his other upcoming projects, Diljit Dosanjh’s Arjun Patiala and Rajkummar Rao’s Made in China.
“In light of the current situation, the team of Total Dhamaal has decided to not release the film in Pakistan," lead actors Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh tweeted Tuesday.
On 14 February, a convoy of vehicles carrying security personnel in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir was attacked by a suicide bomber, resulting in the death of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. Pakistan-based Islamist militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) claimed responsibility of the attack.
According to trade analysts, not releasing films in Pakistan is a crucial business decision for Bollywood, given that it is a sizeable market, bringing around 5% of the overall earnings at times. While box office figures aren’t revealed unlike other overseas territories, distributors in the neighbouring country can pay a minimum guarantee of up to ₹5 crore for a big Indian film. Both Luka Chhupi and action comedy Simmba had been locked in for the same amount. A figure like that means buyers are assured of collections of at least ₹8-9 crore.
Last year, Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Sanju' and Rajinikanth’s '2.0' were the big Indian superhits in Pakistan. Salman Khan’s 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'—about a good-hearted Indian who takes a mute Pakistani child home—remains an all-time blockbuster for obvious reasons. The screen count for Indian films in Pakistan has also risen—from 95 to 110—in the last two years.
“Cities such as Lahore and Karachi have several multiplexes coming up. How long can they run on Hollywood films or sporadic Pakistani content? They are dependent on Indian films," said Atul Mohan, editor of trade magazine Complete Cinema.
Mohan said while individual producers have taken a stand, it is likely that there will be a larger industry mandate on releasing films in Pakistan soon.
To be sure, the rocky relationship between Bollywood and Pakistan goes a long way. In September 2016, Pakistan had banned Indian film screenings after the Uri attack and India’s "surgical strike". The Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) had also banned their members from hiring Pakistani actors.
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